Abstract

This paper argues in favour of distance education in social sciences at the masters level for Canadian Forces officers. First, it demonstrates how distance learning has played a substantial role from the very beginning of university teaching (with Plato’s Academy). It then tries to demonstrate how technology will be central to the pedagogy of educational institutions in the future. Finally, it explains why Canadian Forces officers need to pursue higher education in social sciences even after they have undergraduate degrees, and how the nature of “3D” missions (for Defence, Diplomacy and Development) requires a more thorough understanding of social sciences. The author then suggests a meaningful way to realize this objective. The BOLD (Blended Online Learning Design) initiative demonstrates many of the characteristics required for this type of training: the possibility of studying entirely at a distance, a hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous learning, recognition of the teaching corps needs, transnational and international careers.